Information Literacy: A Smartcard for Lifelong Learning

Abstract

Educational goal is tuned toward the cognitive aspects of handling information in order to prepare the students in pace with the information explosion. To keep abreast of the information age and the technological developments Information literacy is a felt needed skill for the 21st century learners. It is the skill to access and utilize information effectively. A learner imbibed with the adequate awareness of information availability pertaining to his requirement and the ability to reflect upon the quality and reliability of the information could be termed as information literate. It equips the learner to swim across the large pool of information resources. Intellectual capital trumps the meaning of life. Renewing with information and skills constantly is the secret for lifelong living. The information literacy skills of a student boost their attitude towards lifelong learning (Solmaz, 2017). Continuous learning helps the survival of individual in this information society and from mere literates a metamorphosis to information literates is a needed reflection for this reality. Preparing the learners of this generation to manage and handle information effectively and develop their competence to meet the ongoing need for information for their learning is in the hands of teachers. Hence, this paper focuses on importance of the inclusion of information literacy in teacher education curriculum, the need for collaboration among the teachers and librarians as facilitators for information literacy and recommendations to enhance handling and managing information among student teachers.